Internet Campaign Boosts Donations To Planned Parenthood, Money Given In Palin's Name

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Public Health
Article Date: 26 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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An Internet campaign started three weeks ago by an unknown source is seeking donations for Planned Parenthood Action Fund in response to the nomination of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate has received tens of thousands of responses, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports. The intention of the campaign is to encourage people who are angry with Palin's position on abortion rights and other issues to donate money to the organization.

"Instead of (actually, in addition to) all of us all sending more e-mails about how absolutely horrible [Palin] is, let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin's name," says one of the e-mails circulating the Internet. Planned Parenthood officials said the organization had nothing to do with the campaign. Katie Groke Ellis -- field manager for the Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Action Fund -- said PPRM's five-state chapter alone is expected to draw $100,000 in donations. "We are so excited to see that people are writing checks to us instead of just complaining about" Palin's nomination, Groke Ellis said.

According to the News, handwritten thank-you cards are sent by Planned Parenthood to each donor, and if the donation is made in someone else's name, he or she will receive one as well. Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) national headquarters will receive any cards sent to Palin. Jeff Sadosky, director of regional communications for the McCain campaign, called the effort a "crass political stunt" that serves as a "reminder" that Obama's campaign and its surrogates have "given up on the 'new politics of hope' that they were so proud of a few short months ago."

According to the News, Palin, who opposes abortion rights in all cases except to save pregnant women's lives, said earlier this month that she would like to overturn Roe v. Wade, but will work to find a common ground with abortion-rights supporters on reducing the number of abortions (Sealover, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 9/23).

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